Home of the Day

As advances in health care, sanitation and nutrition push life expectancy to new highs, troubling issues are coming into focus.

Currently, there are estimated to be 35 million diagnosed victims of Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or some other form of dementia worldwide, costing the global economy more than $600 billion. Researchers predict that this population will double every 20 years, meaning 120 million people may suffer from these ailments in 2050.

These expenses will continue to be a massive burden on global health care systems unless there are drastic improvements in treatments and prevention.

The brain may very well be one of the last frontiers of medicine. In order to make significant strides in Alzheimer’s, TBI and dementia, global thought leaders must come together to share their knowledge, research and innovation. Competition, profits and market share cannot remain the driving factors for advancing Alzheimer’s knowledge as they do with other diseases. The task ahead is too immense.

This week, I’m honored to bring together global authorities and neurological experts to will gather at the United Nations to discuss these pressing issues and establish partnerships to address them. We formed this Coalition for Concussion Treatment (#C4CT) to tackle these issues, and with the help and support of all whom these diseases affect, we remain confident that we can make substantial strides.

The problem with neurological diseases is that they often emerge subtly, and it is difficult to begin primary care until the disease has significantly progressed. That's also why research progresses slowly. Long-term trials covering initial onset and progression to clinically needed intervention haven’t happened yet. It’s like the health care industry has been putting on sunscreen after being severely burned; current efforts come too late to be effective.

Those projected 120 million people who will have these ailments in the year 2050 will cost the health care system an estimated $1 trillion dollars if more proactive steps aren't taken.

Experts now recognize traumatic brain injury from a motor vehicle accident, fall, or sporting activities as a major risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, "[A] post mortem study found that brains from military veterans with blast exposure and/or concussive injury exhibited similar neuropathology to that found in young adult athletes with histories of repeated concussive injuries." (IJMS, 2014).

Suddenly, military personnel injured by explosions are linked to collegiate athletes who have sustained multiple injuries to the head, who in turn are linked neurologically to the 80-year-old grandmother diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. With this as the reality, there is no singular method for treatment.

"There are far too many unknowns in brain research for scientists who work independently of the broader scientific community to make an impact," said Gerald Commissiong, president and CEO of Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, which is developing therapeutic products for Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders. "Collaboration is the only way forward to decipher common pathways involved in biology of the brain and ways to address dysfunctional pathways in the case of injury or disease.”

Unorthodox treatments and new technologies have already demonstrated promising results. Clinical studies show that stimulating the mind of a person with Alzheimer’s or a person who has cognitive issues due to traumatic brain injury promotes stability and recovery. Tablets like the iPad can play a person’s favorite music, display photographs of fond memories, and offer interactive apps that engage the minds of those affected. There are neurological implants in development to assist synapses within the brain associated with the development of long-term memory.

Maintaining the safety of current sufferers has also become easier. With technologies like GPS SmartSoles that monitor locations of those who wander off, caregivers now have solutions and peace of mind.

“Any technology that can improve the quality of life for the sufferer, decrease emotional stress for the caregivers and lower patient management cost, should be evaluated, implemented, and if needed, subsidized by the global stakeholders and local communities,” said Patrick Bertagna, CEO of GTX Corp and inventor of the patented GPS SmartSoles.

Substantial health care costs of Alzheimer’s and similar diseases continue to cripple families at a staggering rate. But I remain confident that we will continue to make progress towards solving the problem.

This week, I’m honored to bring together global authorities and neurological experts to will gather at the United Nations to discuss these pressing issues and establish partnerships to address them. We formed this Coalition for Concussion Treatment (#C4CT) to tackle these issues, and with the help and support of all whom these diseases affect, we remain confident that we can make substantial strides.

Jack Brewer is CEO of The Brewer Group, a diversified global advisory firm. He is a former NFL player, received a master's degree in sports management from the University of Minnesota, and completed executive business programs at Harvard Business School and The Wharton School of Business. He is the senior advisor to President Joyce Banda of Malawi and founder of The Jack Brewer Foundation. He is an expert in sports finance and global economic development, and a regular CNBC contributor.